Q&A for How to Dress Goth

Goth accessories can include an excessive amount of bangles, chunky rings and bracelets inspired by cultures and ancient iconography like Celtic and Egyptian. Though it isn't vital to understand or believe in the imagery you’re wearing, you can come across as offensive to people who do believe in it, so I’d probably warn to be careful.

While they both look similar on the surface, they have vast musical and subcultural differences. Goth is a subculture which grew out of 70s and 80s British post-punk whereas emo is an off-shoot of mid-80s Washington D.C. hardcore punk, standing for “emotive hardcore”. Both scenes are alive and well today.

If someone makes a negative comment about your appearance, you can choose to ignore it. Your personal satisfaction with your look is what truly matters.

Black lipstick is a very popular and iconic choice in Goth fashion. You can wear it as often as you like.

You can create gothic bracelets using a few methods. One option is to string skull-shaped beads and secure them. Alternatively, you can repurpose a wide black belt by attaching spiked or square metal studs, ensuring you retain the buckle and holes to fasten it around your wrist. The studs can be affixed with glue.

If you don't have makeup and want to wear it, you can buy some from MAC, Ulta Beauty, or Sephora. If you don't want to wear makeup, that's completely fine. You can be goth without makeup.

There are goths of all ages! Don't worry about being "too old" to wear goth fashion. You can get into the scene at any age.

Yes, you can wear virtually any hair color with Goth fashion. Dark brown is a popular choice.

The amount of skin you choose to show is a personal decision, though many gothic styles typically feature greater coverage. You might wear an off-the-shoulder top or dress to expose your shoulders, or a crop top to reveal your midriff. For legs, shorts or a miniskirt can be paired with socks or tall boots to show some skin, or worn without them for a more open look.

There is no definitive concept of "too much goth." Wear as much gothic clothing and accessories as you feel comfortable and confident in.

Choker necklaces can be bought at many different stores. Check out Kohl's, ASOS, Forever21, or Etsy.

Goth formal attire typically features black gowns or suits. For dresses, you can look for draping ankle- or floor-length styles, or bodycon dresses with mesh cutouts. Goth formal suits are often more elaborate, frequently featuring longer jackets and potentially a top hat; ensure all components—jacket, waistcoat, shirt, tie, and pants—are black.

You can find black Doc Martens online at retailers such as Amazon, the official Doc Martens website, and ASOS. Compare prices across these platforms to find the best deal.

You can find goth makeup at beauty retailers such as MAC, Sephora, or Ulta Beauty.

You can include other dark colors, but black should be the primary color of your outfits. Red, purple, and white are excellent accent colors.

Goths frequently wear black because it aligns with the subculture's themes of introspection, mystery, and rebellion. This preference is also rooted in Goth fashion's origins as an offshoot of punk, which heavily featured the color black.

Yes, you can certainly incorporate bowties into goth outfits. They are most commonly black, but designs featuring skulls or crosses are also very fitting.

Goth and emo are pretty similar in terms of style. Emo fashion typically features lots of layers, band t-shirts, hoodies, and tight clothing. Gothic styles are more influenced by the occult and supernatural - witches, magic, skulls, what whatnot. Goths usually wear all black everything, as well as intricate jewelry, and lots of ruffles and lace. You can choose whichever style appeals to you more.

Whether dark clothes and makeup are considered gothic depends on their specific style. While plain dark clothing is a starting point, gothic fashion typically features more decorative elements like patterns (skulls, crosses, stars, moons, pentagrams) and details such as studs, belts, or zippers on clothing, shoes, and jewelry. For makeup, focus on dark eyeshadows and liners, complemented by red, black, blue, or purple lipsticks.

You can incorporate all dark colors into Goth fashion, such as purple, blue, and deep red. Additionally, colors like white, grey, and hot pink are often used.